Hydraulic pump manifold

ABSTRACT

A manifold for a hydraulic system including a pump and accessories such as valves and filters as well as gauges in which the manifold is made part of the pump in fluid communication with the output to receive hydraulic fluid and deliver it to selected accessories and to return the fluid to the reservoir of the hydraulic system all with a minimum of hoses and couplings.

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No.10/048,387, filed Apr. 17, 2002, which is the U.S. National PhaseApplication of PCT Application No. PCT/US00/20727, filed Jul. 28, 2000,which claims priority on U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/171,886filed Jan. 24, 2000 and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No.60/146,464, filed Jul. 30, 1999.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to hydraulic fluid systems andparticularly to hydraulic pump manifolds used in such systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In a typical hydraulic system, a hydraulic pump delivershydraulic fluid under pressure to a hydraulic actuator through a circuitin which a variety of accessories are used such as valves of differenttypes, filters and gauges. A basic system usually includes at least adirectional control valve and a pressure relief valve. Even a basicsystem requires a plurality of hydraulic hoses or lines and connections,which results in a loss of energy as the fluid passes through the hosesand connections. Such circuits require space and are labor intensive toassemble. Also, the hoses and connections expose the system to leaks andoften occupy valuable space. To solve this problem, a hydraulic pumpmanifold has been invented which eliminates many of the hydraulic linesand connections of currently known hydraulic circuits and results in therapid assembly of a compact circuit which can be easily modified by thesubstitution of components such as directional control valves, filterelements and pressure relief valves.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a manifold for usewith a variety of hydraulic pumps in which the manifold is made part ofthe fluid output end of the pump for direct fluid communication fordistribution of fluid under pressure to a variety of accessories such asvalves, filters, gauges and actuators without or with a minimum need ofhoses or couplings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] A manifold for use in hydraulic systems for direct coupling tothe output of a hydraulic pump and adapted to support a variety ofaccessories and hydraulic components such as directional valves,filters, pressure relief valves and other valves as well as actuatorsand gauges, all without the need for hoses and fittings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of amanifold made part of the output end of a hydraulic pump embodying theinvention;

[0007]FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a first alternative embodiment;

[0008]FIG. 2 is a top view of the manifold in FIG. 1 separate from otherattachments;

[0009]FIG. 3 is an elevation of the front face of the manifold in FIG.2;

[0010]FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the manifold in the prior figures;

[0011]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 in FIG. 3;

[0012]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 in FIG. 4;

[0013]FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a hydraulic circuit employing themanifold of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the first alternative embodimentof the invention attached to the output end of a hydraulic pump and usedin association with the filter element; and

[0015]FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 are variations of the embodiment seen in FIGS.1A and 8 showing the hydraulic pump and filter element in variouspositions relative to the manifold embodying the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The manifold embodying the invention is designated generally at10 and is shown in FIG. 1 as part of the output end of a hydraulic pump12 after its usual faceplate has been removed.

[0017] The manifold 10 consists of a single rectilinear front face 14, aback 16, a top 18, a bottom 20 and opposed side faces 22 and 24.

[0018] The front face 14 of manifold 10 seen in FIG. 3 has a cavity 26for receiving the outflow end of the pump 12 and is provided withboltholes 28 for attachment of the manifold 10 to the pump 12 after theusual cover plate on the pump has been replaced by the manifold. Themanifold 10 may be used with a variety of hydraulic pumps such as vane,rotor, gear and piston types.

[0019] The cavity 26 is in direct fluid communication with the outflowof pump 12 and opens to a passage 30 extending laterally from cavitychamber 26 to an aperture in the form of a stepped mounting bore 32opening into the back face 16 of the manifold 10. Bore 32 is formed toaccept a pressure relief valve 34 which is operable to open and close areturn passage 36 seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 which extends to a port return38 formed in the bottom face 20 of manifold 10. The port 38 is adaptedfor connection to a tank or reservoir 40 of the hydraulic circuit, shownin FIG. 7. The tank 40 also can be supported on the manifold 10.

[0020] A directional valve 42 is mounted on the top face 18 forcontrolling the delivery of hydraulic supply pressure to an actuator 44seen in FIG. 7. Valve 42 may be of any type and may provide either fullsupply pressure or proportional pressure depending upon the application.Such valves can be mounted on the top face 18 of manifold 10 byboltholes indicated at 35. Such mounting holes can be in an identicalpattern for a variety of valves. Fluid is delivered to the actuator 44through ports 46 and 48 formed in opposite side faces 22 and 24,respectively.

[0021] Valve 42 receives fluid flow from a passage 50, which extendsupwardly from the main chamber 26 as viewed in FIG. 5. A pair ofpassages 52 and 54 are formed adjacent to passage 50 and extenddownwardly from the top face 18 of manifold 10 to the output ports 46and 48 located in opposed faces 22 and 24 of the manifold to deliversupplied pressure from the directional valve 42. As seen in FIG. 2, apassage 56 extends transversely of the manifold 10 to a port 58 forreceiving a selected pressure gauge.

[0022] In a first alternative embodiment of the invention seen in FIG.1B and FIG. 8, a modular filtration system includes a manifold 70, whichis made part of a hydraulic pump 12 driven by an electric motor 72. Thepump 12 has an inlet 74 for receiving fluid from a reservoir or tank anddelivering pressurized fluid through the manifold portion of the pump sothat a manifold cavity 80 similar to cavity 26 is in communication withthe output of the pump 12. The manifold 70 has a filter inlet passage82, which extends from the cavity 80 longitudinally of the manifold 70and extends from the cavity 80 to the inlet of the filter. Aconventional filter housing 86 for a filter element 88 is mounted to thetop of the manifold 70. The filter outlet passage 84 extends from theoutlet flow passage through the filter element to the filter housing 86.The filter housing 86 is mounted directly on a manifold in accordancewith standard industrial mounting conventions and will accommodate mostcommon industrial filter elements including spin-on types. Whereapplicable, the housing 86 has a cap or bowl permitting quick insertionand removal of the filter element 88.

[0023] A filter output passage 90 extends from the filter housing 86back to the outlet flow passage 84 downstream of a by-pass check valve92. A bore is formed in one of the sides or bottom of the manifold toposition by-pass check valve 92 between the filter inlet flow passage 82and the filter outlet flow passage 84 to permit adequate flow throughthe by-pass check valve from the filter inlet passage 82 through thefilter bypass area 90 and out to passage 84. At a preset pressure, theby-pass check valve will divert filter inlet flow directly to a manifoldoutlet 96 effectively by-passing the filter unit 86 should the filterelement 88 become clogged. Additionally, a variety of filter cloggingindicators 94 (FIG. 8) such as standard glycerin filled gauges orelectronic readout gauges can be mounted to multiple indicator accesspoints on the manifold 70. Flow passages are formed between eachindicator point and either the cavity pressure output or the filterpressure output for diagnostic test information. The manifold assemblypermits a quick and easy assembly of a filter element and by-pass checkvalve, which are proper for the circuit. The by-pass check valve isselected in accordance with the filter elements so that it opens at aproper pressure build up when the filter is clogged. All threadedhydraulic connections are made with seals. The location of thefiltration manifold 70 directly as part of the pump permits a leak freeconnection of the pump to the filter eliminating costly fittings andpermitting a compact design. Filtration can be accomplished at any timeduring scheduled maintenance and production periods or after hours,because the primary hydraulic system does not need to be in operation.

[0024]FIG. 9 shows a second alternative embodiment of the invention inwhich the pump 12 and motor 72 are mounted to the top of the manifold,rather than the side as disclosed in connection with FIG. 8. Thisprovides an opportunity for a piggyback type of arrangement. Themanifold 70 in FIG. 9 differs from the manifold in FIG. 8 only in thatthe cavity 80 for housing the outflow end of the hydraulic pump 12 islocated on the top face rather than the end face to provide ahorizontally compact arrangement.

[0025] A third embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 10 in whichthe filter housing 86 is mounted to the bottom of the manifold 70 andthe pump 12 is mounted to the top face. A dual filter arrangement isshown in FIG. 11 in which a pair of filter housings 86 are mounted onthe bottom face of the manifold 70. All of the arrangements shown inFIGS. 8 through 11 are particularly useful as part of portablefiltration units. Such units can be mounted to a handcart, directly to areservoir via adapter plate, or other mobile unit and moved to thedesired hydraulic system. The unit is connected to the hydraulic circuitto filter the hydraulic fluid in that circuit. Heavy-duty filters andpumps can be used to facilitate the rapid filtration of such systems.After the fluid is filtered the unit is disconnected from the system andready for filtering still another hydraulic system or circuit.

[0026] A manifold arrangement has been provided which may be used withany type of hydraulic pump and a selected one of a variety ofdirectional valves and/or filters to supply pressure directly to anactuator. The manifold results in a compact arrangement of these andother components of the hydraulic circuit such as filters, pressurerelief valves, and pressure gauges and eliminates the requirement formultiple hoses, lines and couplings. The manifold may be attacheddirectly to the pump for the purpose of filtering the hydraulic fluid ofa hydraulic circuit without requiring that hydraulic circuit to be inoperation or connected to an actuator

We claim:
 1. A manifold for a hydraulic system having a pump having apressurized fluid delivery portion, a pressure relief valve and at leastone component from a group comprised of a filter and a fluid controlvalve, said manifold comprising: a pump mounting portion having aninwardly extending cavity adapted to receive the pressurized fluiddelivery portion of said pump; a first component mounting portion formounting said one of a filter and directional control valve; an inletpassage communicating fluid from said cavity to said first componentmounting surface; a pair of fluid ports in the manifold; a pair ofpassages, each of said pair of passages extending between said firstcomponent mounting portion and one of said pair of ports; a returnpassage extending between said cavity and a return port; an apertureformed in said manifold to receive said pressure relief valve mounted tosaid manifold to said pressure relief valve in the return passage. 2.The manifold of claim 1, wherein the component is a directional valve.3. The manifold of claim 1, wherein the component is a filter.
 4. Themanifold of claim, 2, wherein the manifold further has a filter mountingportion fluidly connected to said inlet passage.
 5. A manifold for ahydraulic system having a pump having a pressurized fluid deliveryportion, a pressure relief valve and a filter, said manifold comprising:a pump mounting portion having an inwardly extending cavity adapted toreceive said pressurized fluid delivering portion of said pump; a filtermounting portion for mounting said filter; an inlet passagecommunicating fluid from said cavity to said filter mounting portion; anoutlet port; an outlet passage extending from the filter mountingportion to the outlet port; a return passage extending between saidinlet passage and a return port; an aperture formed in said manifold toreceive said pressure relief valve, said aperture being positioned tooperably position said pressure relief valve in the return passage. 6.The manifold of claim 5 further comprising a top surface having saidpump mounting portion.
 7. The manifold of claim 5 further comprising anend surface having said pump mounting portion.